Interesting thread on the Dire site......they seem to think Smith is a better coach than Madge!! Both great coaches but i think Madge edges it due the success he's had with a team he was dealt with and didnt sign anyone to win anything. Last year we won the LL and GF without Madge even making a single signing and only Deaks being added to the squad, whereas Smiths made several signings to make the team into what they are now. Be interesting to find out what other peoples views on this are.

A Wigan fan will say Madge. A Wire fan will say Smith.

Both have good records and are good coaches but obv as a Wigan fan I'm going to tip Madge.

Madge.

He will do things in the NRL Smith could only dream to do.

At the moment they are probably on par but in a few years Smith wont be fit to lace his boots. I'll go as far as saying once hes finished with South Sydney he will be labeled as the best coach in the whole game.

Best 2 coaches in SL by a mile.

We back Madge, they back Smith.

IF Madge does what we all think he will with Souths, he is clearly the better coach, unless Smith also heads back home at some point and also succeeds.

they are both very good and would be happy for either to be the head coach of Wigan.

stupid thread

i think it's common knowledge that smith has no desire to "go home" he has taken british nationality and set down ties in this country! so the comparison is flawed i'm afraid.

Who is Michael Mcguire? Danny McGuire's dad?

Like it has been said... Wire fans will say Smith and we will say Madge.

Madge won the league in his first season though, it has taken Smith more than that. The turn around with Madge was instant.

Madge is wanted in the NRL. Smith isn't.

Pointless thread both are top drawer Maguire won stuff with a team that was a mediocre also ran riding on historical reputation and Smith took a bottom 4 side to the playoffs and a CC win. I think it's impossible to really say which is truly better because they're the top 2 coaches in the league right now by some margin and are both superb in different ways.

Madge is slightly ahead for me due to turning what was seemingly a pap team into a winning one overnight. Smith is still top quality though and he will be the best coach in the league by some distance next season when Madge has gone.

Is he part of the Shameless cast?

mcguire has only ever been a first team coach at wigan hasnt he? tony smith impact on teams has been in super league for all to see, he has made huddersfield the team they are today leeds are lost without him they won the grand final numerous times under him and that same team he coached is still there so obviously it must of been smith who led them to the glory they had, now look at us now to 4-5 years ago we was fighting with the teams for the last play of spot most of the time never reaching the play offs and now we are the best team in super league winning 2 challenge cups and imo we are the best in super league we proved that by winning the league well maybe i shouldnt say best cause anybody can beat anybody on the day maybe i should say the most consistent team in super league and that is all down to smiths coaching IMO

and simon morans money

Smith won the same number of Super League trophies at Leeds as Brian McLennan. 2.

Like I said. Wigan fans will say Madge, and Wire fans will say Smith.

A pap team, didn't you guys make the GF eliminator the year before.

Being a Wire fan, I know what pap means, we were rooted to the foot of SL when Smith arrived, had struggled to make the playoffs for the two previous seasons. That's what you call 'turning a pap team ..'

Neither is better, they are just two outstanding coaches, I'm just correcting you on 'papness'.

In reality it is too early in Madges coaching career to make a real assessment. That debate should be held for 5 years time, when firstly Smith has had to go through a major rebuilding process with Wire and Madge has had a shot with the NRL's biggest underachievers.

The only criticism I can find against Smith as a coach is his shocking tenure with England.